Reasons For The Hope Blog

On the way down the Mount of Olives

dwwork — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:08:16 +0000

As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, Luke 19:37 ESV
On Tuesday the ETBU group also visited the Mount of Olives. Jesus often took His disciple there to teach. In today’s verse Jesus and the disciples are coming down from the mountain heading to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. What had just transpired was what we now know as the Olivet Discourse. This is where Jesus tells the disciples about the End of the Age and what will transpire before Jesus second coming. All three of the synoptic Gospels recount this discourse.

As I write this, two days ago a massive tornado had made a path of destruction through More, Oklahoma and parts of Oklahoma City. The death toll is at 24 people. A few weeks ago a fertilizer plant in West, Texas exploded killing fifteen and injuring over 150 people. Before that three were killed and hundreds injured in the terroristic bombing at the Boston Marathon. A civil war rages for the second year in Syria and may draw Israel into the fray. And the US is still involved in a war in Afghanistan and still has a presence in Iraq. In Asia North Korea is once again rattling sabers and making the world nervous. It would seem the time is ripe for the second coming.

Yet we are not the first age to feel Jesus must surely be coming soon. When Peter, John and Paul preached they felt the Jesus would return in their lifetime. During the Black Death Europe felt the time was then. I imaging many as war rage across the globe during World War II that the end was near. Every age since Jesus ascension has felt theirs was the last. Our age is no different.

After all it has been almost two thousand years since then surely God would not make us wait any longer. What we forget is that God’s timing is not ours. To humans who live maybe 70 to 80 years two thousand years seems like an eternity but to God it is but a blink of the eye. So do we just give up on Jesus’ second coming? Of course not. What we do is live like it will come in the moment and like it will not happen in our lifetime. We need to always be prepared to meet Jesus for the final judgment but also live our lives spreading the Gospel message to the world.

Jesus tells us that no one but the Father knows the day and hour of Jesus’ return. We need discernment to avoid prognosticators that have to latest calculations proving that Jesus will return on a date certain. We live for the moment of His return but we work for the glory and spread of the Kingdom.

Have a blessed day,

David

A place called Gethsemane

dwwork — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:47:24 +0000

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” Mark 14:32

On Monday Daniel and the group from ETBU visited a number of spots in Israel one of which was the Garden of Gethsemane. The Garden of Gethsemane was a favorite spot where Jesus went to get away from the crowds and find a quiet place to pray. If Jesus needed to get to a quiet place to pray why do we sometimes think that is not necessary?

Jesus needed to spend quiet time with God the Father. He would get away from the city and all the distractions and spend time with the Father. Today, however finding a quiet place is harder and harder. We are connected 24 hours a day seven days a week. There is always something that commands our attention. Tablets, cell phones and laptops are never turned off for fear we may miss something or somebody will not be able to get hold of us.

There was a time not all that long ago when people were out of touch for long periods of time. People went about life unaware that they were missing out on total connectivity. Things got done just at a slower pace. No most times I do not want to get rid of all my gadgets. It is nice when I forget why I went to the grocery store to be able to call home and be reminded that I needed to pick up eggs along with the milk. Without the internet I could not reach others with these daily writings, I will leave it to you if that is a good thing or not. Still I am bad about carving a few minutes out of each day to spend some quiet time with God.

We all need some quiet time just to talk to a more importantly listen to God. I know that I have missed what He wants me to do because of all the distractions I let around me. Let’s each of us make a commitment to turn off the phone and tablet, close the laptop and find a room with a TV blaring or radio on and talk to God and listen to that small quiet whisper from the Creator of all things. If Jesus felt a need to do so shouldn’t we?

Have a blessed day,

David

There were shepherds

dwwork — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:57:28 +0000

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8

Yesterday Daniel’s group visited the shepherd’s field outside Bethlehem. I got to thinking about how the account of God’s angels appearing before lowly shepherds shows the authenticity of the Bible. That last sentence may should a bit strange but when we look at whether a writing is made up or true on thing that speaks of authenticity is how the account reflects on the writers.

When people make a story up they tend to write in such a way as to show them in a favorable light. Having the announcement of Jesus’ birth given to a bunch of shepherds by angles no less would not be the first thing that comes to mind. To understand why we need to look at how shepherds were looked upon in first century Palestine.

Shepherds were not exactly at the top of the social order back then. They lived outdoors with the sheep. They were dirty and smelly. They tended to be more at home with sheep then with people. They were at the bottom of the social totem pole. Shepherds would have been the last group of people anyone making up a story about the Son of God’s birth would have chosen to be the first to hear the birth announcement.

If the Gospel accounts were written long after the events as some critics believe then why pick shepherds as the first to hear the news of Jesus’ birth? I could think of five better choices. Why not appear to the temple priests? How about the Jewish nobility? Or a king? What about the Caesar? Finally, how about appearing to one of the disciples? We do not know the ages of the disciples but some, how about Peter or Matthew, would have been young boys at the time of Jesus birth. If you are making up a story of the King of Kings why not make the announcement equal to the king’s birth? Instead we have shepherds.

Really the only reason to have the announcement made to a bunch of shepherds is that that is what happened. The writers of the Gospel accounts wanted to record events as they actually happened. They were not interested in writing fiction as the real story was so much better than anything men could imagine.

Have a blessed day,

David

O Jerusalem

dwwork — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:33:46 +0000

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Matthew 23:37

I would ask for your indulgence as I take a brief break form our study of the book of Daniel. Our son Daniel is in Israel with his history department at ETBU and I thought it would be nice to look at some verses that reflect where he will be traveling over the next twelve days. I have no idea which verses I will be drawn to but I know God will make this time well spent.

Today is Daniel’s first day in Israel so I felt drawn to a verse concerning Jerusalem and found this verse from Matthew. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem and stops just outside of the city. He and the disciples are looking down on the city and Jesus feels sorrow for the city. AS He gazes down at Jerusalem Jesus cries out when He remembers what has happened in the City of David.

Prophets did not do well in Israel and in Jerusalem in particular. God would send His prophets whenever His people would stray from God. No one wants to hear that what they are doing is wrong and kings tend to get upset whenever their actions are questioned. The prophets were constantly telling the Jews to repent and turn back to God or they would be punished. So it is little wonder that many of them were killed.

Jesus knew all this history and He was saddened. If only they had listened. God constantly calls His people to Him and yet they ignore His call. Today is no different. God calls everyone to Him yet too many refuse to listen to the call.

Have a blessed day,

David

PS this is the one I should have sent Friday. Hope I did not cause any confusion.

Now there was in Joppa

dwwork — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:12:25 +0000

Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Acts 9:36,40

Our son Daniel’s group is in Tel Aviv today and tomorrow where they will visit the Holocaust Museum and study Israel as well as the geography of Israel. The modern city of Tel Aviv lies on the Mediterranean coast of Israel near the ancient city of Joppa. Today the two cities have merged into a single city, Tel Aviv.

It is in Joppa that Peter raises Tabitha from the dead. Tabitha was a disciple of Jesus and known for her good works. So loved was she that her friends sent for Peter who was in nearby Lidda to heal her but before Peter could arrive she had died. As we read in Daniel, Peter prayed before he raised Tabitha from the dead. I feel this was mentioned so we would know that it was not Peter but God who raised Tabitha. Too often we tend to think that such events are the result of men and forget that only God can work these miracles.

Another thought came to me as I was reading these two verses. Tabitha was a woman and also a disciple. Now that may not seem like a big deal today but in the first century it was unheard of. Women just did not become disciples. In fact they were not to be taught by rabbis. Jesus not only taught women but allowed them to accompany Him in His ministry.

Today too many people claim that Christianity is anti-woman. But even a cursory reading of the New Testament shows that far from being anti-woman, Christ and Christianity raised women to a level unheard of at the time. In God’s eyes men and women are equal. I think it is fair to say that without Christianity women would still be considered to be inferior to men. Yes, Christian men have not followed Christ’s example in how to treat women but that is a result of our fallen state not Jesus or His teachings.

After all, it was not to the male disciples that Jesus first appeared but to the women.

Have a blessed day,

David

Daniel and his group arrived safely in Tel Aviv at 1:50 this morning, please keep them in your prayers.

The mystery was revealed to Daniel

dwwork — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:02:33 +0000

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:19-23

I have to confess that sometimes when my prayers have been answered I forget to give praise to God. I am not sure why, maybe because the answer did not come in the way or form I expected. Maybe it just was not answered spectacularly enough. And sometimes I get so caught up in living that I just forget where all good things come from.

Daniel did not forget. Once God gave Daniel the answer he needed Daniel began to praise God. In Daniel’s praises we see much of God’s character. We see God as the source of wisdom. We see God’s omnipotence. Daniel tells us once again that it is God who allows rulers to rule and that they rule at His pleasure. It is from God that all wisdom and knowledge come from. He gives us the capability to learn and the wisdom to put our learning into practice.

Today’s verses let us know that nothing we do is done on our own. God is behind every good thing we do, that without God we can do nothing. Daniel recognized that and he praised God for the revelation needed to interpret the king’s dream. We too need to recognize when God gives us the answers we seek and praise Him for those answers. Not because God needs our praise but because He deserves our praise.

Have a blessed day,

David

He made matters known to them

dwwork — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:10:49 +0000

Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Daniel 2:17-18

After Daniel asked Arioch to set up an appointment with Nebuchadnezzar the first thing he does is to enlist his friends to pray for God’s help in the task of finding out Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and then interpreting the dream. That is one of the many ways I differ from Daniel in how I handle problems. Too often while I will pray for God’s help, I fail to enlist my brothers and sisters to pray on my behalf.

I guess I tend to think that my problems are too small to bother others. I read prayer request and they all seem so much more urgent than my issues and I just don’t want to bother anyone else. And yes. My problems are nowhere near the problem Daniel was facing. Yet when I keep my prayer request to myself I am missing out on something special.

Daniel could have prayed by himself and I am sure God would have answered Daniel’s prayer. What Daniel did was bring in his friends into the process. He trusted them to pray in concert with himself. He put the community that God placed around Daniel into use and in doing so not only made God pleased but allowed his friends to become involved in God’s work.

When Jesus taught His disciple to pray He did not do so one at a time but taught them as a group. Then when Jesus went to pray at the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion He did not go alone but ask Hi disciples to come with Him and pray. When we pray for others or ask other to pray for us we are imitating Jesus.

Have a blessed day,

David

Daniel replied with prudence and discretion

dwwork — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:34:26 +0000

Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king. Daniel 2:12-16

You do not want to make a king mad. When the wise men of Babylon could not tell the king his dream and interpret the dream Nebuchadnezzar commanded that all the wise men be destroyed. Fortunately for them Daniel was there to save them. Of course the wise men first wanted to make sure that Daniel and his three friends were killed first. It says a lot about Daniel’s character that he ignored the threat on his own life in order to save all the wise men.

Once again we see how Daniel goes about solving a problem. He is not rude or belligerent but acts wisely and with discretion. Daniel is not about tooting his own horn. He knows that without God he can do nothing. So Daniel approached Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who was sent to kill all the wise men in Babylon. Daniel asks why Arioch was sent to kill and then asks to see the king.

Daniel is bold in his request because he does not yet know what the dream was or how to interpret the dream. Daniel is solely dependent on God’s grace. Noting has changed in the almost 2,600 years. We are each still dependent on God’s grace. Whenever we take a bold stand for God we are relying on His grace to see us through. We rely on Him to give us the word to say and the ability to say them in a manner that will cause people to listen to us and not tune us out.

Just like Daniel we need to act with prudence and discretion. We need to act in a way that glorifies God not ourselves. We need to approach others with love. Then we have a chance that people will listen to the message of Christ.

Have a blessed day,

David

No one can show it to the king except the gods

dwwork — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:58:06 +0000

In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Daniel 2:1-11

Do you remember your dreams? I usually do not. Oh, if I wake during a dream I may remember it for a few fleeting seconds as I walk to my closet to get dressed but for the most part my dreams quickly slip away. Every once in a while I will remember a dream but I cannot ever recall a dream that affected me such as the one king Nebuchadnezzar had. People back in Nebuchadnezzar’s time put great stock in dreams as do many people today. So it was not anything special to want to have his wise council interpret this dream.

What was special about this dream is that Nebuchadnezzar not only wanted them to interpret his dream but to tell him what the dream was. Talk about a challenge. It is tough enough to remember one’s own dreams much less tell someone else what they had dreamt. Of course the king was probably third of getting vague interpretation or just plain wrong interpretations. And of course, anyone can give an interpretation if they know the dream and dreamer. I would also guess that most of the interpretations were also king friendly. No one wanted to make the king mad.

Nebuchadnezzar’s magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans were partially right when they told the king that “The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Of course it was not the gods but God that could tell Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed and what the dream meant. Nebuchadnezzar needed someone special to interpret his dream. Fortunately he had such a person in his court, Daniel.

Have a blessed day,

David

God gave them learning and skill

dwwork — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:12:05 +0000

As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus. Daniel1:17-21

Ever wish God would bless you with a specific gift? Maybe you are like me and always wanted to be a soloist in the choir. Unfortunately while God did give me a good singing voice, my sense of timing and ability to read music is sorely lacking. Now I could probably learn to read music but the timing thing that just seems to be beyond my ability. So up until I had some issues with my throat, I sang as a part of choirs where I could depend on others to help with my timing and hitting the right notes. Still, couldn’t God help me with that timing thing?

When I look at what God gave these four young men it makes me think. Wouldn’t that be great to be so knowledgeable and wise that you could impress a king? And Daniel, wow, he can interpret dreams and visions. These young men were better, much better, than all the wise men that surrounded Nebuchadnezzar. But as I read today’s verses it struck me that the gifts God gave me should be sufficient for me. God equips each of us with the gifts we will need to succeed in the tasks He has for us.

God did not need me to have great musical timing; He had a different task for me. It seems that I can be moderately successful at teaching and writing. Now I could continue to dream about a solo that would bring the congregation to its feet but that would come at a cost of not doing what I feel He wants me to do. Don’t get me wrong I still have that fantasy but it is just that a nice dream that makes me smile but does not get in the way of what I should be doing.

Each one of us has a gift that God has given us in order to do His work. Most of us know what that gift is but there are ways to find out if you do not know. Ask your pastor or one of the ministers in your church. Most have ways to assess spiritual gifts. Then put that gift or gifts to work. If you have more than one, God will direct you to the specific gift He wants you to use and will show you how to use all your gifts toward that goal.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were given some very impressive gifts. They were also in store for some extremely hard times in Babylon. Most of us will never come close to experiencing the trial these four men did but God gave them the gifts and strength to handle what came their way. He will do the same for you. God has and will give you the strengths and gifts to handle the trials that life will through at you. He has given you the gifts you need to spread the Gospel to the world. What we need to do is out those gifts to work.

This past winter I needed to buy a new chainsaw. My old one had broken and parts to fix it were no longer available. The new saw work great and is much easier to start and maintain than my fifteen year old saw. The thing is that as long as I keep the saw on its shelf in the garage it will not cut a single thing. In order to be useful I have to take it out and start it up then I can get work done. Otherwise it just gathers dust.

Have a blessed day,

David